Police: Teacher at Christian school masturbated while kids in classroom

Math instructor at Schaumburg school fired, arrested on sex charge

Paul A. LaDuke, 75, a math teacher at Schaumburg Christian School, was charged with sexual exploitation of a child after allegedly masturbating in his classroom Friday while students were present. A student reported the incident to school authorities, who fired LaDuke that day.

A longtime teacher at Schaumburg Christian School was charged with sexual exploitation of a child Tuesday for allegedly masturbating while students were in his classroom — an act, police said, that he might have performed repeatedly for 10 years or more.

Police said that on Friday, Paul LaDuke, 75, of Hanover Park, was seated behind his classroom podium when he lowered his pants and masturbated. A student allegedly saw him and reported it to a teacher, who relayed it to school administrators. LaDuke lost his job the same day, police said.

The school contacted authorities Monday, police said, and after investigators interviewed students, LaDuke was arrested. A police spokesman, Sgt. John Nebl, said authorities believed that LaDuke had committed similar acts at the school several times a year for a decade or longer, though he would not detail how investigators came to that conclusion.

He said police were not concerned about the three-day delay before school officials reported the allegation to authorities because LaDuke had been fired, halting his contact with students.

LaDuke is scheduled to have a bond hearing Wednesday at the Cook County Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.

Police said they had no evidence that LaDuke had inappropriately touched or physically harmed any student, though they asked current or former students or their parents who have information about the case to contact investigators at 847-882-3534.

LaDuke, who taught math, had been at the school since 1985, according to his Facebook page. An online Father's Day tribute apparently written by his son said LaDuke had earlier worked at a Christian school in Colorado.

Officials at Schaumburg Christian School, a ministry of Bethel Baptist Church that serves students from preschool through high school, said they were cooperating with investigators but declined further comment. Several officials with the school and church could not be reached or declined comment.

LaDuke's cousin Larry LaDuke, who lives in Colorado, said the allegations were shocking.

"He's always been a strict Christian," Larry LaDuke said. "He's always followed his faith. I can't believe this is happening. As far as I know, he's never shown any inclination like this."